Jack Nicholson: Is He Retiring From Acting?

Have we seen the last of one of the most legendary actors in American cinema? A sad report on Sept. 4 claimed that Jack was done for good because of memory issues, but is that the truth?

Jack Nicholsonmay have more iconic roles than any other actor around. But at the age of 76 — and after not starring in a movie since 2010 — retirement is a real, serious possibility. So is the Batman actor actually hanging it up?

Jack Nicholson: Retiring Because Of Memory Issues?

“Jack has — without fanfare — retired,” a source told Radar Online at Sept. 4. The report alleged that Jack was giving up acting because of memory issues.

“There is a simple reason behind his decision — it’s memory loss. Quite frankly, at 76, Jack has memory issues and can no longer remember the lines being asked of him. His memory isn’t what it used to be.”

However, soon after the story caused a Twitter frenzy, it was reported that news of Jack’s retirement was exaggerated.

A separate source claimed that any reports that Jack was retiring from acting were “100% false.” In fact, he is “actively reading scripts and looking forward to his next project,” the source told NBC News.

Jack Nicholson: Is He Retiring?

So is he in or is he out? If his health is up to snuff, there’s no reason why he can’t continue acting for however long he wants. Though three years is a long time in between movies — his last starring roles were in The Bucket List in 2007 and How Do You Know in 2010 — he’s taken long hiatuses before. For example, after appearing in As Good As It Gets in 1997, Jack’s next movie, The Pledge, didn’t come out for four years.

Part of what’s made him such a legendary actor is his patience and aptitude for choosing the right roles. Perhaps nothing great has come his way recently. Either way, that’s surely a more pleasing answer than the possibility that Jack may be losing his ability to act.